MORE and more school leavers are opting to reject university because of rocketing fees and an unsettled job market, taking instead the vocational route into traditional careers.

She said: “I got really good results at GCSE but I didn’t think the university option was a good one.

“I wanted to earn money and gain proper experience in the workplace. I went to work at a law firm as a junior and they told me about legal executive training. They paid for all my studying, the books and the exams. All the time I was gaining invaluable work experience. I specialise in crime and family law.

“My friends leaving university now are trying to find placements or doing voluntary work to get experience. That’s where I have gained.”

Sophie Yates, from Telford, Shropshire, left school with three A levels but failed to get into the university of her choice. The 25 year old said: “I had been working in a law firm in the run-up to my A-level results.

All the time I was gaining invaluable work experience

Kate Crossman

“The senior partner spoke to me about the possibility of becoming a chartered legal executive lawyer.

“I was able to study in the evenings and have that study funded. Now, seven years on, I specialise in wills, probate and court of protection. I love it.

“This has given me amazing confidence.” The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives allows people with GCSEs to train as legal executives without going to university, providing a qualification equivalent to a solicitor but gained while working full time.

Able to earn an average of £20,000 a year while studying in their own time, the legal executives can earn up to £92,000 on qualifying and without having incurred any debt.

Unisnotforme.com and notgoingtouni.co.uk have details of apprenticeships, further education courses or how to go straight into the workplace.